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Rally takes over Victoria Law Courts entrance to support Unist’ot’en Camp

Coastal GasLink seeks injunction against blockade
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A rally in Victoria takes over the front steps of the Victoria Law Courts Thursday to stand in solidarity with Unist’ot’en Camp. (Keri Coles/News staff)

A rally in Victoria took over the front steps of the Victoria Law Courts Thursday to stand in solidarity with Unist’ot’en – a permanent, non-violent Indigenous occupation south of Houston, B.C. set up to protect unceded Unist’ot’en territory from pipeline construction.

The Unist’ot’en Camp is along the proposed route of multiple LNG pipelines, including TransCanada Coastal GasLink who filed an application for an injunction Nov. 26 in Prince George B.C. Supreme Court to enforce access to areas blocked by the Unist’ot’en camp.

The hearing began this week, inspiring Victoria activists to head to the courthouse “in support for Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and the Unist’ot’en Yintah.”

“We want to show our support for Unist’ot’en and the five hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en who continue to assert jurisdiction over their territories and steadfastly say ‘NO consent for fracked gas pipelines!’” said rally organizers.

RELATED: Protesters opposing LNG Canada drop banners inside B.C. legislature

Chanting “We stand with Unist’ot’en,” the group walked from the Greater Victoria Public Library over to the courthouse around noon to assemble on the front stairs of the law courts and block the front entrance.

A smaller group, dressed in court costumes and calling themselves the Supreme Court Choir, sang protest renditions of popular Christmas carols.

“We don’t give a damn for the laws of your land, now it’s time to move out of the way. It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” sang the choir.

“Some local defenders of the Unist’ot’en territory don’t want to see the pipeline put through their territory. I really admire their persistence,” said rally participant Larry Wartel.

The group denounces how “settler institutions ignore their own commitments to UNDRIP and Reconciliation in the name of corporate profit.”

RELATED: Coastal GasLink applies for injunction against Unist’ot’en


 
keri.coles@blackpress.ca

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A rally in Victoria takes over the front steps of the Victoria Law Courts Thursday to stand in solidarity with Unist’ot’en Camp. (Keri Coles/News staff)
14781907_web1_Protest-2
A rally in Victoria takes over the front steps of the Victoria Law Courts Thursday to stand in solidarity with Unist’ot’en Camp. (Keri Coles/News staff)